Cookie season has officially arrived. By now, you’ve whipped up a festive batch for your family, your neighbors, your coworkers—even your Uber driver enjoyed a few Snickerdoodles.
But aren’t you, ahem, forgetting someone?
That’s right—your pup wouldn’t mind a taste. In fact, a homemade, dog-friendly cookie is better than putting a mass-produced, store-bought dog treats in his stocking.
“Dogs are naturally carnivorous scavengers. They are not supposed to be eating compressed, desiccated nuggets,” says Dr. Laurie Dohmen, founder of Purple Moon Herbs and Studies, which educates both veterinarians and pet parents on herbal medicine.
With that in mind, we created the following holiday cookie recipes for your dog. While they may seem a bit bland to your human palate, resist the urge to dress them up—common baking ingredients such as salt, raisins and chocolate are harmful to dogs. And before you prepare any food for your dog, whether it’s his daily dinner or a holiday cookie, Dohmen recommends consulting a veterinarian trained in homemade diets.
Lastly, even though we tend to lose count of the cookies this time of year, it’s important to limit your pup to a taste or two. A treat, after all, is meant as a treat, even during the holidays.
Happy baking!
Peanut Butter-Banana Treats
Ingredients:
- 1 peeled, ripe banana
- 1 egg
- 1 cup flour
- 2/3 cup rolled oats
- 4 tablespoons natural, unsweetened peanut butter
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large bowl, mash banana; add remaining ingredients and combine.
- Roll mixture into small balls, using about 1 tablespoon of dough for each.
- Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and use a fork to press down slightly and flatten into disks. Bake 40 minutes or until light brown and crunchy.
Cheesy Berry Biscuits
Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups flour
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese*
- 3/4 cup blueberries
- 1 egg
- ½ cup water
*Note: Some dogs are lactose intolerant, so skip the cheese if this is the case with your pup. A couple tablespoons of peanut butter can be substituted to add tasty protein.
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and mix; if dough is very sticky, add a couple extra tablespoons of flour.
- Form dough into a ball and place on a floured surface; use a rolling pin and roll out until about ¼ inch thick.
- Cut out biscuits with cookie cutters, place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake 30 minutes, until tops are golden brown.
Carrot-Apple Oaties
Ingredients:
- 1 peeled, ripe banana
- 1 cup shredded carrot
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
- ¼ cup water
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
Directions:
- In a large bowl, mash banana, carrot, applesauce and water
- Add flour, oats and cinnamon to form a dough.
- Place dough on a floured surface; use a rolling pin and roll out until about ¼ inch thick.
- Cut out biscuits with cookie cutters, place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake 25-30 minutes, until tops are golden brown.
Monica Weymouth is a writer, editor and certified Weird Animal Lady. She lives in Philadelphia with her two rescued Shih Tzus.
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